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Tintin
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Rastapopoulos
General Alcazar
Professor Tarragon
Rascar Capac
Doctor Müller

Professor Tarragon

"A specialist in American culture or history and in the languages or cultures of the aboriginal inhabitants of America." Notably, Hercules Tarragon is the author of a thesis about the occult sciences of Ancient Peru.
Professor Tarragon
Professor Tarragon © Hergé / Tintinimaginatio - 2024

Test your knowledge

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Clothes

Most often, Tarragon wears a black suit with a grey waistcoat and a pair of horn- rimmed glasses.

Dictionary

"A specialist in American culture or history and in the languages or cultures of the aboriginal inhabitants of America." Notably, Tarragon is the author of a thesis about the occult sciences of Ancient Peru.

Good to know

It is said that when he created Professor Tarragon, Hergé was inspired by Jean-François-Désiré Capart, illustrious Egyptologist born in Brussels on February 21st, 1877. Mr. Capart gave lectures at numerous Institutes and Universities. He was also Chief Curator at the Royal Museum of Art and History in Brussels (1911).
Photo of Jean Capart - Professor Tarragon
Jean Capart
It is to be noted that when Jean Capart travelled to South America (1936) he visited various museums and focused his interest on the exhibits about Indians. The journeys of Jean Capart are recounted in a book, "Jean Capart ou le rêve comblé de l'Egyptologie", written by A.-M. Capart, a member of his family. On February 5th, 1975, Hergé wrote to A.-M. Brasseur Capart to praise her for her book.

Situation

Tarragon appears in The Seven Crystal Balls and in Prisoners of the Sun.
First appearance of Tarragon in The Seven Crystal Balls
First appearance of Tarragon in The Seven Crystal Balls © Hergé / Tintinimaginatio
Tarragon was part of the ethnographic expedition which discovered and brought back from Peru the mummy of the Inca King Rascar Capac known as "He-who-unleashes-the-fire-of-heaven".
Tarragon presents the mummy, Inca king, Rascar Capac
Tarragon presents the Inca king, Rascar Capac © Hergé / Tintinimaginatio

The plot

Tarragon is "the last of the seven" (in reference to the other six members of the expedition). Will he evade the spell cast on the various members of the Sanders-Hardiman Ethnographic Expedition by a strange "fanatical Indian" who "has sworn to punish those who were bold enough to disturb the tomb of the Inca king, Rascar Capac"?
Scientists go crazy in The Seven Crystal Balls
The Seven Crystal Balls © Hergé / Tintinimaginatio
7 reviews
or to write a review.
supersnowy
15/01/2024 16:43 PM
when i started to read the book i was thinking that he was dead
typhoon5
09/09/2023 20:35 PM
he is ok
snowy1000
24/08/2023 22:00 PM
༎ຶ‿༎ຶ
poopy2008
22/02/2023 02:33 AM
He looks like my dad lmao
16/01/2022 23:58 PM
Even though he had a small role in the Tintin universe, he was still a memorable character.
george05
03/05/2021 21:18 PM
Nice 👍
hanna1
06/01/2021 15:20 PM
אני לא מבינה למה הוא מופיע בין הדמויות הראשיות, ולא צ'אנג או עבדאללה, לדוגמה
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